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I must completely agree with the out-going Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma that her successor should be “sensible” and continue where she left off rather than change the way the department is currently being run.

It is true that the Department of Home Affairs has a long way to go to get to where it should be. Dr Nkosazana-Zuma however has made many dramatically positive changes when it comes to basic services delivered by the Department. This project therefore needs to continue under the leadership of the new Minister once Dlamni-Zuma leaves for Addis Ababa to take her new position as African Union Chair.

President Zuma needs to be mindful of this: he needs to appoint someone who is tough and ready to confront this challenge.

Alas, I suspect that that won’t be the criteria that he’ll use to appoint the new Home Affairs Minister. His criteria will be who will be best to serve in his plan to be re-elected in December.